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SEASONAL CHANGES IN STRUCTURE OF A SUBMERGED BLUEGREEN ALGAL/BACTERIAL COMMUNITY FROM A GEOTHERMAL HOTSPRING 1
Author(s) -
Fagerberg Wayne R.,
Arnott Howard J.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
journal of phycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.85
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1529-8817
pISSN - 0022-3646
DOI - 10.1111/j.1529-8817.1979.tb00717.x
Subject(s) - biology , biomass (ecology) , seasonality , ecology , abundance (ecology) , community structure , botany
The species (cytospecies) structure and seasonal dynamics of a thermophilic bluegreen algal/bacterial community from Mimbres, New Mexico are described. Using stereological techniques, several common quantitative ecological parameters (biomass, density, distribution measurements, Species Diversity Indices, importance values) were described for the community growing ca. 1 m beneath the water surface on the inner walls of a concrete cistern. Temperature and pH were relatively constant while water flow rates, duration and intensity of light showed seasonal variation. The total volume of the mat occupied by living organisms did not exceed 2% during the entire year. The remaining volume was occupied by gas and water bubble chambers, gelatinous matrix, empty tubes, mineral deposits, and water. The total biomass remained constant except during a period of severe, seasonal light reduction (November). Species Diversity Indices, density and importance values for the bluegreen algal and bacterial populations showed seasonal changes. The three dominant bluegreen algal cytospecies which represented the greatest amount of biomass alternated in their abundance on a seasonal basis while the three dominant bacterial cytospecies remained the same throughout the period of study. Although considerable season change occurred in the species structure of this community, the total living volume remained relatively constant with the major changes in the bluegreen algal populations. Many of the seasonal changes observed appear to correlate with seasonal changes in light intensity and duration.